Framing Statement :

Last fall, 2018, I took an Introduction to Sociology course. As one of the final parts of that course we had to write a five to seven page paper analyzing the sociological imagination from our own life through a sociological lens. I believe I did really well on this paper as I received at 96% on it. However, after re-reading through my paper and now having the English 110 background and knowledge that I do, I did notice a couple things. I found that in my paper I unconsciously making several text-to-self and text-to-world connections. You’ll see below I made a text-to-world connection of how society stereotypes males and females, then in my next paragraph I apply that text-to-world connection by talking about my experience with that stereotyping, a text-to-self connection. I found myself doing a decent job with the quotation sandwich, but I feel as though it was very vague. If I had known more about the quotation sandwich topic at the time being, then that would have enhanced my essay even more because I would have gone into more depth with the quotes and paraphrases. Grammatically speaking, there were definitely some comma splices throughout the essay that I could have fixed, although I didn’t know they were a thing back last fall, so now I was easily able to identify and see where I could make some quick corrections to fix those. Dancing was a female stereotype, I also had a slight daredevil side to me. This was just one comma splice I found. To correct this I would add the coordinating conjunction “but” after the comma to separate the two independent clauses. I did recall one major struggle I had with writing this paper was the organization and taking all my thoughts and making them flow smoothly, therefore I looked to a writing tutor to help guide me. I could say that if I had to write another paper like this now then I feel as though I wouldn’t have needed that extra guidance because of the skills obtained throughout English 110.

Writing Sample :

No matter if you identify as male or female, typically in society we view the male as the “stronger” individual. Men are expected to stick out an illness, not just run to the doctor if something goes wrong. Realistically speaking, research in all aspects have shown that men have a higher pain tolerance than women (Stevenson 2008). Whereas things are more lenient with females, there’s a societal concept around the idea of female delicacy. Women are more concerned with their overall health and well being whereas men want to live up to the image they need to fulfill in society without needing help, and being able to handle it on their own. Healthcare providers, especially male ones are less trusting of women that say they are sick or have a certain type of chronic illness. Women sometimes get less medical attention because doctors don’t take them seriously. Research has proven this true, Leslie Jamison’s essay “Grand Unified Theory of Female Pain” examines ways that different forms of female suffering are minimized, mocked, and coaxed into silence. Female pain might be perceived as constructed or exaggerated.

Growing up I had the social label of a female. When stereotyping, I was treated according to my gender. My parents automatically dressed me in female colors such as, pinks and purples, while also throwing on dresses for holidays, because that’s the societal norm of being female. I had the female needs in addition to wants growing up. Some of these wants were things like, American Girl Dolls, Barbie Dolls, and Littlest Pet Shops, and such. The older I got I began to realize how my label of being female had both advantages and disadvantages. Growing up, dance was my extra-curricular, it was extremely rigorous because I did it competitively my entire life. Dancing was a female stereotype, I also had a slight daredevil side to me. When I was ten, my Dad purchased four wheelers, and we ride often in the summer and also go on weekend trips up North. Doing something like this led me to want to go for my motorcycle license, which I achieved, but got such negative feedback from the people of our society because “You’re too small, it’s not safe, and only males ride motorcycles”. This didn’t stop me from wanting to achieve my goals, but I absolutely received some judgment on my label as a female.